CalRecycle study finds 8.5m tonnes of packaging sent to landfill in California

Nearly 8.5 million tonnes of single-use packaging and food-service items were sent to landfill in California in 2024, according to an updated material characterisation study published by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

The report, released on Tuesday 30 September, estimated that approximately 8.46 million tonnes of so-called “covered material” were disposed of in landfills last year, accounting for just over 21 per cent of the state’s total waste. The findings form part of ongoing research under California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54), which requires the state to track and reduce single-use packaging waste.

Researchers collected and analysed samples from 16 landfill sites between February and April 2025 to produce the updated estimates. The study found that paper and fibre products represented the largest share of single-use waste at about 3.9 million tonnes, followed by plastic packaging at roughly 3.1 million tonnes. Flexible and film plastics were among the most frequently observed items within that category.

CalRecycle said the updated report incorporates improved statistical modelling and data analysis methods, providing a more accurate picture of waste composition across the state. The data will be used as a baseline for future waste-reduction measures once California’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) programme for packaging is fully implemented.

A public meeting is scheduled for 28 October 2025 in Sacramento, where CalRecycle will present the findings and invite further feedback from industry and community stakeholders.